Camanava withstands continuous rain, floods

A heavy overnight downpour caused flash floods in low-lying areas in the Camanava (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela) area yesterday, but floodwater quickly receded.

In the coastal town of Navotas, where more than 300 families were evacuated when Typhoon Florita hit Metro Manila two weeks ago, all roads remained passable even to light vehicles.

"At least 10 of our pumping stations were working so floodwater quickly receded despite the high tide," Gerry Doringo, Navotas public information officer, said.

Earlier, Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco had ordered the municipal engineering office to double its effort in clearing the town’s waterways.

Tiangco also called for the strict implementation of a policy against indiscriminate throwing of garbage, which is often the cause for the clogging of canals.

During the last weather disturbance, residents living along the town’s shoreline were brought to higher ground as huge waves threatened to destroy their houses.

In Malabon City, Bong Padua, Mayor Canuto Oreta’s public information officer, said dikes damaged by Florita, particularly in Barangay Longos, had been fully repaired.

At least 80 percent of Malabon City’s 21 barangays were flooded by Florita’s heavy rains, compounded by more than a two-meter high tide.

"We have 15 pumping stations situated in the flood affected areas of the city. These are all working, lessening the effect of today’s flashfloods," Padua said.

Engineer Ed Bautista of the Malabon City engineering office earlier said the abnormal rise of the sea level and several damaged dikes last week rendered their pumping stations useless.

He said they decided to stop the operation of the pumping stations for it was only a waste of time and resources.

"We pumped a glass of water only to be replaced by at least a pitcher," he said.

Asked whether the Mega Flood Control Project initiated by the Department of Public Works and Highways would be the answer for the perennial flood problem in Camanava, Bautista said: "That remains to be seen."

Engineer Carla Bartolo, Camanava Mega Flood Control Project officer-in-charge, said that once the project is completed in June next year, 80 percent of flood woes in the north metropolis would be solved.

However, Malabon-Navotas Rep. Ricky Sandoval, one of those who opposed the project’s construction due to an alleged defect in its design, said the recent flooding only proved true his criticisms of the foreign-funded project.

"The lives of the people living behind the dikes are threatened. We saw how water overflowed during the recent weather disturbance," Sandoval said.

Apart from the discrepancy in the level of the dike, its foundation is also weak, the lawmaker claimed.

"The recent flood started to erode the base of the dike. I had suggested that it be reinforced," Sandoval said.

Sandoval has informed Bartolo about his observation on the DPWH’s flood control project and was assured that his concerns would be addressed.

Meanwhile, flooding in Dagat-Dagatan in Caloocan City, particularly in front of the NPD headquarters on Tanigue street, quickly subsided following the high tide.

No areas in Valenzuela City were reported to have been severely affected by the flashfloods yesterday.